Tag: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot

Nets visiting Mavericks at odd time

The Mavs have lost back-to-back games. The Nets have lost three in a row. Both teams are also dealing with injuries heading into Thursday.

One team’s skid is going to come to an end on Thursday.

The Brooklyn Nets have lost three in a row. It started with the New York Knicks the day after Christmas, then the Houston Rockets, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Dallas Mavericks have lost back-to-back games. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, then dropped their New Year’s Eve matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Now, the argument could be made the Mavs are primed for a breakout game because of their recent rough patch. Though, the same could be said for the Nets, too.

However, Nets fans know all too well injuries are plaguing Brooklyn like no one else. This makes it hard to imagine the Nets will bust out. But, the Mavs are in a similar position. Kristaps Porzingis (right knee soreness) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (left hamstring soreness) both missed the game in Oklahoma City. Not to mention Luka Doncic hasn’t quite been himself since returning from his ankle injury (25% from three post-injury, 32.6% pre-injury).

If Porzingis remains sidelined, Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan have a chance to run wild in the paint. Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell are solid, but that’s not a pair Brooklyn’s frontcourt should struggle against if Dallas’ best rim protector is out, or even not at full strength. (Porzingis is averaging 2.1 blocks per game.)

Of course, the Nets can overwhelm the Mavs if their 3-pointers start to fall. Specifically, if Brooklyn’s 3-point shooters in the starting lineup — Joe Harris, Taurean Prince, Garrett Temple and Spencer Dinwiddie — are on. Because, Wilson Chandler and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot have had some solid nights of late, but those two alone can’t make up for a 1-for-10 performance from Prince against the Knicks or Dinwiddie’s 0-for-7 night in Houston.

The Nets’ 3-point shooting has swung in the right direction since facing the Knicks, improving from 26% to 28.2% to 36.6% on Monday. They can’t afford to have that percentage to go back in the other direction.

Brooklyn has a reasonable chance to start 2020 on the right foot, but the Nets can’t expect Dallas to hand them a win just because the Mavs have struggled of late, too.

Tip-off time is 8:30 p.m. EST.

Nets lose third straight, drop season series with Timberwolves

The Brooklyn Nets continue to struggle as they closed out 2019 with a disappointing loss.

A nine-point fourth quarter lead clearly wasn’t enough for the Brooklyn Nets in Minnesota — a place they can’t seem to buy a win.

After losing to the Timberwolves 127-126 in overtime on opening night, the Nets found themselves on the wrong side of yet another overtime battle. Brooklyn lost 122-115, marking their third loss in a row, fifth in a row in Minnesota.

What’s worse is the Timberwolves had lost their last nine home games, and they were without Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins — their top scorers this season.

Spencer Dinwiddie led all scorers with 36 points on 12-for-31 shooting (3-for-9 from three, 9-for-13 at the line).

Dinwiddie also had eight assists.

Tauran Prince had a double-double (11 points and 14 rebounds), but he was not efficient with his shooting. He hit a big shot late, but Prince went 3-for-13 from the floor (2-for-7 from long-range).

Garrett Temple scored 11, but struggled offensively, as well. He made 3 of his 16 shots, going 1-for-7 from three.

The one player who was efficient was Joe Harris. He scored 18 on 8-for-14 shooting (3-for-6 from 3-point territory).

Off the bench, DeAndre Jordan grabbed 13 boards, Wilson Chandler scored 13 points and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot finished with 11 points.

RELATED: Garrett Temple experiencing rough stretch from 3-point territory

How to interpret Kenny Atkinson’s comments on upcoming changes in Nets rotation

Change is coming for the Brooklyn Nets. Kenny Atkinson gave some insight as to how he expects things will transpire.

Kenny Atkinson has some tough decisions ahead of him. And he has to make them soon.

Based on the information the Nets head coach has shared regarding Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert’s status, the first challenging choice will be who gets the final roster spot with Wilson Chandler’s suspension ending on December 15.

Iman Shumpert became the 16th man on the roster, which Brooklyn was given due to Chandler’s situation. But Shumpert has been part of the rotation since he first signed with the team.

Additionally, David Nwaba has emerged as someone who can provide a lift off the bench, on both ends of the floor.

Right now, the move seems to be: waive one of either Henry Ellenson or Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, then do the same with Dzanan Musa or Theo Pinson, but sign whoever is waived of the latter two to a two-way deal.

After Sunday’s win, Atkinson was asked about the complications he now faces with several players emerging as contributors:

It just adds to our depth and adds to our talent. I just see it as a good thing. Now, I am thinking about, ‘What is that going to look like [with the] rotation?’ Nwaba, how much does he play? What does that look like with Spencer? Start? Come off the bench? So those are good problems. I’m excited about, and our staff is excited about making that work. But I can only think that the experience that these guys are getting in different roles — even Garrett Temple. He’s kind of out power-scorer right now off the ball. And his role will change. But I think in that long run, that makes you stronger.

First, it’s important to note the reporter who asked about Brooklyn’s upcoming rotational changes specifically mentioned three players in the question: Dinwiddie, Nwaba and Shumpert.

Why does that matter? Because Atkinson didn’t address Shumpert in his answer, but touched on the other two. Given the wing’s unique situation, Atkinson might need to be a bit more careful with what he says regarding Shumpert’s future.

On the other hand, the Nets head coach may not see Shumpert’s role changing.

Whereas, with Nwaba, Atkinson’s comments made clear his spot on the roster is safe. Of course, this is barring a major change in his play, as well as major jumps from both Pinson and Musa.

Lastly, it seems likely Dinwiddie will continue to start when Irving returns. Atkinson made clear Temple’s role will change, but he was up in the air when it came to Dinwiddie.